Ironing is one of the easiest ways to improve the look of your wardrobe and achieve a more professional, put-together appearance. However, the actual act of ironing can be a bit perplexing, especially once you begin to iron items beyond the standard button-up shirt. Follow these tips to learn how to iron other elements of your wardrobe beyond your dress shirts.
Jacket
Many people only take their jackets and blazers to the dry cleaners. However, if you are short on time, learn how to iron your jacket at home.
- Decide what temperature setting is best for your jacket. For instance, a hot setting can be used for a linen jacket, but a wool (or wool blend) requires a warm iron.
- Dampen the jacket either by hanging it in a steamy bathroom or holding a steaming iron over the suit. Why? Warm, damp fibers will flatten out quicker and more efficiently.
- Prepare your ironing board and iron. Fill your iron with filtered water and then allow it to reach the proper temperature.
- Always test the iron on a rag before you start to iron your garment. Why? This ensures that if any water leaks out, it will leak on your rag and not your garment.
- Turn the jacket inside out. This important step allows you to iron your jacket without damaging the delicate outer material. Ironing the outside can cause “Shining,” an unfortunate event that compresses the fabric’s weave and creates an unnatural shiny look. With your jacket flipped inside out, proceed ironing your jacket as you would a collared shirt.
- Hang the jacket up immediately to prevent additional wrinkles.
Pants
Because wrinkly dress shirts are immediately noticed, many people tend to think that shirts are an ironing priority and then tend to neglect their pants. However, pants need just as much ironing attention.
- Start with a clean, stain-free pair of pants.
- Prep your ironing board, iron, and select the proper temperature setting.
- Iron the pocket linings first. Why? If your pants are a slim cut, wrinkly pockets will be visible.
- Iron the waistband: Press the pleats and fabric fold as necessary.
- Iron the creases: Line up your pant legs and begin by pressing the creases at the bottom followed by the front crease and then the back crease.
- Press the leg: After the creases are ironed, you can press the entire leg of the trouser.
- Note: if you are worried about “shining” drape a clean tea towel or other white cloth over your pants before you iron.
Skirt
Does your suit feature a skirt instead of trousers? Perhaps your linen skirt is all wrinkled after you pulled it out of the closet. Follow these steps for ironing a skirt.
- As with any ironing project, set up your board, iron, and check your garment care tag for the appropriate heat setting.
- Press the waistband first.
- Lightly spray the skirt with starch.
- When pressing pleats, first arrange a few pleats (no more than the width of your iron) and inspect them to make sure nothing is folded or twisted. Begin at the waistband and press each pleat section. Repeat until all pleats are ironed. Be sure to iron the hem as well to create a crisp edge.
If you’re not sure how to iron your particular jacket or trousers, let us help you; we can hand iron your garments for you.
